Foot scaffold



1942. c. -w. HAWK 2,292,074

FOOT SCAFFOLD Filed April 19, 1939 IN V EN TOR. Clyde W. Ha Wk A TTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 4, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT QP'EICE FOOT SCAFFOLD Clyde W. Hawk, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application April 19, 1939, Serial No. 268,707

'7 Claims.

My invention relates to foot scaffolds or stilts for walking or standing, and for the use of plasterers, painters, and other craftsmen, for reaching higher than ordinary positions on the wall, or the like.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a stilt which is made high enough so that the craftsman, or any other person, may be elevated sufiiciently to reach the top of the wall or the ceiling of the ordinary room, and to provide one which is light enough of weight that it may be easily carried by the feet of the wearer, so as not to burden or tire the wearer while at work.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a stilt of this class which is sufficiently flexible or which may be readily distorted so that the supporting legs or feet may yield or be distorted relative to each other so as readily to accommodate the device to uneven supporting surfaces.

An important object also of this invention is to provide novel and simple means for longitudinally adjusting the supporting feet, or upright frame members, for increasing the height of any of the legs so that the stilt may stand substantially upright on inclined floors or other supporting surfaces.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel means of mounting the foot sup port or foot rest on the upper portion of the frame for variously and angularly adjusting the same relative thereto.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, I have devised a stilt of this class, having certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and portions, as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the characters of reference thereon, which form a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of one of my stilts in its preferred form of construction;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the upper portion thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation of one of the supporting feet and the adjusting means therefor;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation, similar to Figure 23 showing my stilt in a slightly modified form;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation thereof taken at 5 of Figure 4; and,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof taken through 66 of Fig. 5.

One of the stilts, as shown in Fig. 1, is secured to and worn on each foot, so as conveniently to elevate the whole body.

My device, as shown in Fig. 1, has closely positioned front uprights l and 2, and closely positioned rear uprights 3 and 4. These uprights are secured relative to each other by transverse braces 5 at their lower portions and by transverse braces B at their intermediate portions. These uprights are also reinforced by diagonal braces 1, preferably in the plane of the transverse braces 6. The uprights l and 3 extend below the braces 5 and are provided at such lower ends with supporting feet, as will be described hereafter. The transverse braces 5, which connect the pairs of closely positioned uprights, extend considerably to one side, as arms 5 These sides are the left side of the left stilt, or the right side of the right stilt, that is, they extend outwardly from or with respect to the pair of stilts of the wearer. The outer ends of the arms 5 are connected, by diagonal braces 8 to the uprights connecting the respective lower transverse brace 5. Thus the ends of the arms 5 extend as cantilevers beyond the outer sides of the frame. These outer ends of the arms 5* are provided with depending legs 9.

It will be noted that all of the foregoing members are preferably round rods of approximately 4 of an inch in diameter. The lower ends of the uprights I and 3, as well as the legs 9, are provided with threaded shanks Ill. These threaded shanks are screwably connected, by internally threaded tubes or sleeves I I, to threaded shanks l2 of supporting feet l2. These supporting feet have rubber bases l2 in which the lower enlarged ends of the shanks I2 are embedded. The shanks Ill and l 2 are preferably of opposite threads so that the tube or sleeve l I may be more quickly adjusted by means of a pin 13 intermediate the ends of the tube.

I have shown similar threaded shanks 2| at the upper portions of the uprights I, 2, 3, and 4. Oppositely threaded tubes or sleeves 22 connect the threaded shanks 2| to threaded members 23. The threaded members 23 are arranged in pairs, one pair near each end of the foot rest 24. The upper ends of the members 23 are pivotally connected to lugs secured to the foot rest 24 near said opposite ends of the foot support or foot rest. This foot support 24 may be either a metal plate or other flat member, and is made of such a size and shape as to receive and support the sole of one shoe of the person intending to use the device. This foot support has a heel receiving a portion 2% at one end, and also has suitable shoe straps 25 and 26 at both ends.

The device mentioned, one of which is adapted to be secured to each foot of the user, is suificiently flexible so that the outer feet of the device, secured to the legs 9, may yield or be distorted in a vertical direction so that the device may readily accommodate itself to an uneven surface. The adjusting means afforded by the threaded tubes or sleeves H and 22, at the lower and upper ends, permit the device to be readily raised or lowered from 4 to 8 inches. In this manner the stilt may readily vary from a height of 28 to 36 inches.

The pivotal mounting of the foot support 24 allows for longitudinal tilting of the foot support.

In Figs. 4 and 5, the vertical adjustment at the upper ends of the stilt is omitted, and the rear end of the foot support 24 is secured to the rear upright 3 and 4. The forward portion of the foot support 24 is provided with downwardly extending threaded shanks 3| which extend through a transverse member 32, connecting the front uprights I and 2, and vertically adjust the shanks 3| relative to this cross-member 32 by means of nuts 33.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination, and arrange.- ment of parts and portions, and a certain modification thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the same, but desire to include in the scope of my invention, theconstruction, combination, and

and cross braces, some of the uprights having feet at their lower ends, the other uprights being short of the lower ends of the feet, and other feet positioned laterally from said other uprights, at the side of the latter opposite the first feet, and extending to the same level as the first feet, said feet being separately longitudinally adjustable with respect to the uprights and to each other.

3. In a stilt, a wire frame comprising uprights and cross braces, some of the uprights having feet at their lower ends, the other uprights being short of the lower ends of the feet, and other feet positioned laterally from said other uprights, at the side of the latter opposite the first feet, and extending to the same level as the first feet, said uprights being longitudinally adjustable.

4. In a stilt, a wire frame comprising uprights and cross braces, some of the uprights having feet at their lower ends, the other uprights being short of the lower ends of the feet, and other feet positioned laterally from said other uprights, at the side of the latter opposite the first feet, and extending to the same level as the first feet, said feet being separately longitudinally adjustable with respect to the uprights and to each other, and said uprights being longitudinally adjustable intermediate their ends.

5. In a stilt, a wire frame comprising uprights, one having a foot at its lower end, and another foot positioned laterally from and on the same level as the first foot, but yieldingly and resil iently secured to the main portion of the frame.

6. In a stilt, a substantially rigid frame having a foot at its lower end and another foot positioned laterally from andon the same level as the first foot, but yieldingly and resiliently secured to the main portion of the frame. 

